I love having friends and family over for dinner, especially during the summer. An evening meal outdoors is sheer perfection. The key for me is to make as much as possible ahead of time, so that when the guests arrive I can enjoy socializing. But, let’s not forget, I’m a Southern girl at my core, and I’m a big fan of everyone piled into the kitchen chatting and drinking a libation while the last steps of the meal are prepared. The kitchen is the central hub of a Southern home, and I follow that tradition very closely. Big Mama (my mom) would be proud! Everything on my dinner menu is pretty simple to make, but don’t mistake the simple preparations for boring eats. The ingredients are easily found all year round, so these recipes don’t have to gather dust during the fall and winter months. There are even a few surprises in there: pizza with crust made out of cauliflower. Incredibly creamy ice cream without dairy. It is all nutritious and super delicious—foodies never fear, I promise you won’t be disappointed!! Today's Recipe: Mediterranean Chicken With Pear Quinoa This recipe was inspired by an incredible meal I had recently at read more

In a world where fast food and quick-fix diet plans are everywhere, it’s easy to take a detour from the path of healthy eating. A lot of times it can be hard to change our weight and our lifestyle because we’re not even sure what the real problems are. Whether you struggle with cravings or just can’t seem to get on board with quinoa, there are many food issues that millions of women struggle with. Luckily, for every diet issue, there is a totally doable solution that can help wiggle you out of your food rut. Check out the list below for some of the most common signs your diet needs a few touch-ups, along with a handful of solutions to help you get back on track! 1. You are constantly hungry after you eat. If you feel hungry after your meals, it's time to check what you're putting in your body. Are you eating enough healthy fats and whole grains to hold you over and sustain you throughout your day? If not, toss a handful of raw nuts or seeds such as almonds, cashews, chia seeds, and hemp seeds in a ziplock bag and bring them with you to read more

Salad for dinner is great. No, really. We found nine recipes that are tasty and energizing and have great flavors that won't make you feel sad to be eating healthy. Try these for a light (but yummy) dinner this summer. read more

Tender Greens is a California chain restaurant that serves farmers'-market-style food sourced from fresh, local ingredients. Executive chef Peter Balistreri shared a recipe with us East Coasters (since we're not exactly able to pop by for a meal) to give us an idea of his menu. Here's a pancake recipe that incorporates quinoa for extra protein and fullness: Ingredients: 3 cups cooked red and black quinoa 2 1/4 cups flour 6 teaspoons baking powder 1 1/2 teaspoons salt 3 whole eggs 3 egg whites 3 tablespoons butter 3/4 cup milk 2 tablespoons sugar 1 teaspoon vanilla extract 1 teaspoon maple syrup Directions 1. Combine all dry ingredients in one bowl. 2. Combine all wet ingredients in another bowl. 3. Add wet ingredients to dry ingredients and mix until well incorporated. 4. Cook pancakes on a flat pan on medium heat, with a little oil or butter until golden brown on both sides. Optional: Add fresh, seasonal fruit to a pan (like strawberries, peaches, plums, pluots, apricots, and berries) with a few spoonfuls of sugar or honey. "Cook down" the fruit on low/medium head until it's glazed and slightly dehydrated, then drizzle on top of pancakes and serve with a dollop read more

As a person who spends most of her life scrolling around various social networks (for my job, I swear!), it takes a lot for me to get really excited about a Web sensation. But Quinoa, the imaginary hipster toddler taking over Pinterest, is officially my new obsession. I mean, her name is QUINOA. Can we all agree that's what Kim and Kanye should have named their baby girl? Naming your kid after a superfood is so much more "now" than naming her after a direction. Anyway...Quinoa was invented by Tiffany Beveridge, who hilariously captions too-chic pictures of children with quotes about her precocious faux-spawn ("Did you know Quinoa surfs? She does. She surfs."). Here, a few highlights: Quinoa's best frenemies? Chevron and Barcelona, natch. See more of Quinoa's imaginary awesomeness over on Tiffany's Pinterest board. Are you loving Quinoa too? Which pin is your fave? read more

It happens in my office every day: Someone asks me whether she should try the latest "health food" (açai berries! kombucha!). My answer? Before you rush out to try the hot new thing, make sure you have these five superfoods in your diet already. Each one of them delivers massive nutrition, boosts your energy, and controls your weight. In other words, they're too good to pass up for the latest food fad. Take a look. read more